Musical instrument of the flute type



y 28, 1940- B. E. WALBERG 2,202,410

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT OF THE FLUTE TYPE Filed Oct. 2Q, 1938 14 ff J6 filai 2 Patented May 8, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a musical instrument of the iiute type in which the sound is produced by a stream of air striking against a sharp edge.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a construction in or at the mouthpiece for accurately and quickly changing the tone and to provide means for performing this object in the form of a longitudinal lever with the end of it in such a position as to be readily accessible to the player of the instrument.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side View of a flageolet constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line l I of Fig. 2, and

Fig. 5 is a view like Fig. 4 with the air opening open.

The invention is shown as applied to a well known type of flageolet in which the mouthpiece It is provided with the usual air opening I I, as is well understood in this art. It will be noticed that this air opening is not located in the center, as usual, but there are three upwardly extending flanges I2, parallel and exactly alike preferably, and between two of them is the opening II. This is shown as on the right side of the center. Between the other two flanges I2 is a similar opening I3. This opening I3 is for the purpose of letting the air out and determining the note. For that purpose it is located at a little distance longitudinally from the opening II, which is always cpen. This opening I3 preferably is of a distance longitudinally from the opening II to provide for a half note, although it could be formed to produce another fraction of a note.

This opening I3 is normally closed as shown in Fig. 4 by a stop I4 made of cork or any other similar yielding substance. This stop is mounted on a lever I5 which is pivoted on a bracket I6 carried by a tube IT. The opposite end of this member I5 is provided with a hand piece I3 integral with it and located in a position adapted to be reached by the person playing the instrument. Under the lever on one side is 5 a spring I9 normally keeping the stop closed. The spring l9 also yieldingly resists the opening of the stop to the position shown in Fig. 5.

It is found in practice that, although when the stop I4 is closed, the note will be determined 10 by the opening II, no other means being provided. However, if the stop I4 is lifted, as shown in Fig. 5, and the opening I3 thereby opened, the operation of the instrument will result in the same note plus a half note, as would be the case if the opening II were not present at all. Therefore, the opening I3 is open to provide hali notes and no means has to be provided for closing the opening II.

This is a very simple construction which can be manufactured at very little expense and furnishes little or nothing likely to get out of order.

It enables the player to manipulate the instrument in such a way as to play half notes or full notes at will and without shifting the instrument, thus not necessitating the adjustment ordinarily necessary to get the correct note again.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as 80 set forth in the claim, but what I claim is:

As an article of manufacture, a wind instrument of the flute type having a mouthpiece provided with an air chamber having a constantly open wind opening and a tone lip therefor, a normally closed wind opening to one side of and spaced longitudinally of the constantly open wind opening a distance to change the tone by less than a full note, a tone lip for said normally closed opening, means to open said normally 0 closed wind opening to render its tone lip operative, said means when in closed position completely filling said opening and bearing against its tone lip.

BERNARD E. WALBERG. 5 

